Elevating rack



May 20, 1924.

D. P. CLEVELAND ELEVATING RACK 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 8 May 20 1924.

D. P. CLEVELAND ELEVATING RACK Filed May 8 )922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 Texas, have invented i Patented May 20, 1924.

UNITE STATES PATENT orne.

DAVID AP. CLEVELAND, OF DALLAS, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T J'. A. BERGFELD,

0F DALLAS, TEXAS.

ELEVATING RACK.

Application led May 8,

To all 'wlwm it may concer/n:

' Be it known that I, DAvm P. CLEVELAND, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Dallas, in the county of Dallas and State of certain new and useful improvements in E-levating Racks, of which the following'is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in elevating racks.

The invention contemplates means for elevatin automobiles and motor vehicles so as to a ord ready access to the running gear and underside of the same, without having to drive the vehicle up an inclined support.

115 such as the commonly used stationary rack. A particular object of the invention is to provide a rack which is normally substantially flush with the floor and has elevating means arranged below the floor, whereby a vehicle may be driven into position over the rack so as'to be engaged and raised when said elevating means is operated.

A particular advantage of the invention resides in means whereby the vehicles may be elevated to various heights, thus enabling the operator to regulate the elevation in accordance with the work to be performed.

In carryinv out the invention I provide a rectangular rame mounted on a plurality of hydraulic elevators which are arranged below the floor together with a plurality of .liquid containing cylinders communicating with said elevators, and means for applying a Huid under pressure to displace the liqui whereby the said elevators are actuated and the frame raised. The frame is provided with means for engaging the running gear and supporting the vehicle when elevated.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described together with'other features ofthe invention.

The invention will be more readily understood froma reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanyingldrawings, in which an exampleo the invention is shown and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a rack constructed in accordance with my invention, the same having portions broken away,

V Fig. 2 is an elevation of one side, the

in said cylinders,

. relation,

i922. serial No. 559,2?59.

In the drawings the numeral designates the end beams of a rectangular frame and 11, the longitudinal beams thereof. The said frame is carried by a plurality of hydrostatic elevators located below the floor 12, and is adapted to be received in a corresponding recess 13 in said floor so as to be normallyl Hush therewith.

Each side of the frame is supported by a pair of said elevators which are spaced inwardly of the ends thereof. As will be seen in Fig. 3, a cylindricalcore 14 is concentrically disposed within a vertical sleeve 15 of each elevator, the same being of such relative diameters as to provide a space 16 therebetween. The sleeve receives an annular screw threaded boss 14 on the lower end of the core and is thereby held in position.v An annular base flange 17 is located below the boss and is secured to a suitable footing 1,8, whereby the elevator is kanchored iii position. The upper end of the core is circumferentially grooved to receive a plurality of piston rings 19. A tubular plunger 20 snugly receives and is slidable vertically thereon without engaging the sleeve 15. Normally, the lower end of the plunger rests on the boss 14, while the upper end is provided with a cap 21. The plunger extends above the core 14, so as to provide a space 20 between the top of the latter and the cap 21. As will be best seen in Figs. 2 and 3, the longitudinal beams 11 are suitably secured to the caps 21 of the plungers.

Mounted on the outer side of each beam 11, is a pair of cylinders 22 in opposed rethe core 14 in telescopic lation, each having communication at its means of a connection 23 entering the cap 21 thereof. The inner ends of each pairof cylinders have connection with a T 24 which is connected with fluid pressure line f outer end with the adjacent plunger by one of the branches of a i extending along the 1nner sides of the beams 11 and across ene of the endbeams 10. Connectedyin the middle of said line at the said end beam is an angular extension 26 havipg a control valve 27 disposed therein. A exible conductor 'such as a hose 28 engages over the end of said extension and has connection with a suitable source of fluid which is under ressure. li preferably employ air`in said llne to exert the necessary pressure to operate the rack,-

but it is to be understood that the invention contemplates the,use of steam and any other suitable Huid for this purpose.

The cylinders 22 and connections 23, contain a liquid for transmitting the pressure exerted by said Huid to the plungers 2O in order to force the same upwardly. I preferably use oil or equivalent liquid for this purpose, because of its cushioning qualities; however, any other suitable liquid .may be used. As is shown in Fig.l 4, a piston head 29 is slidable within each cylinder and is normally disposed at the inner end thereof.

Spaced inwardly of each end of the frame is a pair of angular brackets 30, which are hinged to the inner top edges of the beams 11. As is shown in Fig. 3, said brackets terminate short of the running gear of the vehiclefand are adapted-to engage the front and rear axles of the same when thevfraine is slightly elevated. The pair of brackets engaging the rear axle may have suitable recesses or notches 31 in their upper ends in which to receive said axle and hold the same aglainst displacement. It will be seen that w en the frame is lowered the brackets may4 be swung down upon the floor 'so as to be out of thewway when moving a vehicle into position or `removing the same. lit is evident, however, that various means may be provided to co-operate with the frame for engaging and supporting a vehicle in elevated position. l Y.

In operation it is pointed out that the vehicle is driven into position on the floor 12 so as to straddle the frame of therack. The brackets are then swung to an upright position as is shown in lEigs. 2g'and 3. By open'- ing the valve 27 air or other iiuid under pressure is conducted equally thru both branches ofthe line 25`and directed against the inner faces of the piston heads 29. It will be seen that suchpressure causes said heads to displace the liquid in the cylinders 22, whereby lthe same is conducted to the spaces 20 thru the connections 23. 'The pressure is thus which, as Pit enters the spaces 20', forces said plungers upwardly.l It is pointed out that the said frame is mounted on the caps 21 and is raised with said plungers', causing "the bracketsv 30 to engage the axles of the vehicle and elevate the same with said frame.

The brackets provide a suitable support .for

the vehicle when elevated and permit of free access to the underside arts thereof.

It will be seen that y a corresponding branch fluid pressure line with a single control valve located centrally, pressure is equally distributed at all times to the several elevators, thus a smooth, even movement is had and the rack maintained on a level during operation.

Various changes in the size and shape of the diiierentv parts, as well as modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What l claim, is: I

1. In an elevating rack, a frame member, a plurality of hydraulic elevators arranged below the Hoor and carrying said member, liquid containers carried by the frame member and having communlcation with said elevators, and means for applying pressure against the liquid in said containers for displacing the same, whereby said pressure is transmitted to said elevators to actuate the same.

2. lin an elevating rack, a frame member, a plurality of hydraulic elevators arranged below the floor and carrying said member, pairs of oppositely disposed cylinders carriedby the frame member, each communicating with one of said elevators and having a piston head slidable therein, said cylinders being adapted'to contain a liquid, and common means for applying pressure against the piston heads of all cylinders simulta-I neously, whereb the liquid in said cylinders is oliisplaced an the said elevators are actuate 3. ln an elevating rack, a horizontal frame having means for engaging the running gear of. a vehicle, hydraulic, elevators disposed under and carrying said frame, means for delivering a liquid to said elevators for operating the same, and a fluid pressure means for displacing said liquid.

4. ln anelevating rack, a horizontal frame havin means for en a ing the runnin ear of a rehicle, hydraligc elevators disgpsed under and carrying said frame, means for delivering a liquid to said elevators for operating the same, a fluid pressure means for displacing said liquid, and a single means for controllng the Huid pressure means.

5. In an elevating rack, a horizontal frame having means for enga 'ng the running gear of a vehicle', hydraulic elevators'disposed f l n frame havin means for engaging-the runliquid, a common iuid pressure line one n vning gear o a vehicle, hydraulic elevators branch of which is connected with each pair disposed u/nder and c arryingsaid frame, of cylinders, anda single control means conl0 pairs of oppositely disposedv cylinders car-` nect'edinsaid line.

ried by the frame, each having communioa- In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature. tion at\its outer end With-fthe adjacent elevator, said cylinders adapted to contain a DAVID P. CLEVELAND. 

